Partner Background
Our Lady of Grace Senior High School (OLAG) is a secondary school in Ghana guided by the values of Knowledge, Morality, and Service. Founded through a long-standing sister parish relationship between Our Lady of Grace Parish (Minnesota) and St. Joseph’s Parish in Mamponteng, Ghana, OLAG has grown into a thriving institution serving 850 students annually.
To date, OLAG has graduated 2,279 students, many of whom have pursued higher education in Ghana and abroad. 317 alumni have earned advanced degrees, and 9 graduates are currently studying in the United States (two at the University of Notre Dame). The school is funded and overseen by the Rise & Shine Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit committed to educational access and long-term institutional sustainability.
Definition of Opportunity
OLAG recently constructed a new guest house adjacent to the school campus in the rural town of Mamponteng, Ghana. The facility is intended to provide high-quality lodging for visitors—donors, board members, volunteers, educators, and faith-based groups—while also serving as a social impact enterprise that breaks even while providing social value to the school. Given the limited availability of quality accommodations in the surrounding region, the guest house presents an opportunity for OLAG to:
Create a breakeven model for the use of the facility (and if it generates revenue, contribute it to the school)
Attract new partners and collaborators
Deepen engagement with visitors beyond short-term stays
Look for new social and educational impact opportunities.
Build on and expand its relationship with the University of Notre Dame